NMA: Teaching the World’s Youth about Leadership! The NMA Leadership Speech Contest is open to students in grades 9-12 and is a unique opportunity to research, write, and present a 4-6 minute address to an NMA audience. The subject? Leadership – what it is, what comprises its attributes, who personifies your definition of a “leader”, or whatever else works its way into the students’ understanding of the subject. NMA Chapters reach out to home-schooled students and area high schools to hold local contests. Winners advance to the NMA Annual Conference where they receive airfare and room costs to the as well as compete for a $4,000 top prize.
National Speech Contest Finals (New Orleans - 2016)
West Regional Speech Contest (Phoenix - 2016)
What do students gain from participation?
By researching, writing, and delivering a speech on Leadership, the young men and women — and their audiences (faculty, family, friends, and NMA members) — acquire a greater understanding of the role that Leadership plays. The contest also provides an incentive for the development of communication skills that will be so vital to them upon entering the workforce or furthering their education. Certainly, the financial rewards help winning students to go on to college or otherwise fulfill their dreams.
How are the students judged?
NMA reaches out to Toastmasters International to aid in the critical judging area and recommends that all levels of competition be judged by the members of that organization. All speeches must adhere to the general theme of Leadership and must be submitted to the contest director prior to each level.
NMA reaches out to Toastmasters International to aid in the critical judging area and recommends that all levels of competition be judged by the members of that organization. All speeches must adhere to the general theme of Leadership and must be submitted to the contest director prior to each level.
- 50% of the total points are awarded for content
- 30% of the total points are awarded for delivery
- 20% of the total points are awarded for language
NMA reaches out to Toastmasters International to aid in the critical judging area and recommends that all levels of competition be judged by the members of that organization. All speeches must adhere to the general theme of Leadership and must be submitted to the contest director prior to each level.
- 50% of the total points are awarded for content
- 30% of the total points are awarded for delivery
- 20% of the total points are awarded for language
What Materials Are Available to Help Conduct a Speech Contest?
- A comprehensive Speech Contest Guide
- Speech Contest Participant Forms
- Contest Information Packet
- Posters to leave behind at local high schools
- Certificates of Achievement for all contestants
* The Speech Contest Guide is undoubtedly one of the most thorough guidebooks published by the Association. Chapters interested in starting a local contest will find a complete “boiler plate” for every facet and every step of the process — news releases, confirmation forms, sample meeting agendas, letters of invitation, thank you letters to judges, presentation scripts, tally sheets, contest data forms, countless checklists, and much, much more.
Any Important Deadlines of Which I Should Be Aware?
Chapters wishing to conduct a Speech Contest need to submit a “Chapter/Council Confirmation Form” (found in the Speech Contest Guide) to NMA headquarters by January 31. This form must be on file at NMA Headquarters in order for students to be eligible to compete.
Where Do I Get Additional Information?